The Basic Facts Of A Pulse Oximeter

In a nutshell, the function of the pulse oximeter is to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood of a person

. They are used in hospitals, clinics, homes, and basically anywhere with the invention of portable versions. To give you a wider background of this medical device, here are a few things you should know.

First, you should know what oxygen saturation is. The number of oxygen molecules is compared to the maximum capacity of a hemoglobin blood molecule to contain the oxygen. The blood can contain to as much as 4 oxygen molecules. Thus, if certain hemoglobin has only 3 oxygen molecules, then the oxygen saturation is only 75%.

It's important to know a person's oxygen saturation if he or she has lung and respiratory issues. A normal person would have oxygen saturation in the high 90s percentage. If it is lower than that then that person is definitely sick. Through age and time however, this number steadily decreases.

A pulse oximeter works with the use of red colored and infrared light. The light is emitted in the sensor usually placed in the finger or the earlobe. The photo detector of the machine will then determine the ratio of red light to the infrared light. The infrared light is absorbed by the oxygenated blood while the red light is absorbed by the deoxygenated blood. So the calculation will be the ratio of the oxygenated blood versus the deoxygenated blood. That is the oxygen saturation.

A pulse oximeter will only measure oxygen saturation only. Though some models can measure heart rate or calorie count, the primary function remains the same. It is best to test the oxygen levels over time and not just in one instance. You'll get a more accurate picture of your oxygen saturation level if it is observed over a period of time. If you have sleep apnea or asthma, the use of an oximeter is not advisable.

Another thing you should know is that you should be very careful when reading an oximeter because there may be factors that can disrupt its readings. Among them are irregular heart beat, weak pulse, cold hands, and if the sensor is not properly placed on the person.

by: Jack Rogers

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